The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c20.168

v3.c20.168

The army, in open rebellion, arrived at Delhi on February 22, 1242, and besieged the king in the White Fort until the month of May. He had received an accession of strength by the adhesion of Qarāqush and one other faithful Turkish noble but he had fallen under the influence of a slave named Mubārak Farrukhī, at whose instance he committed the supreme folly of imprisoning these two nobles, and the same pernicious influence restrained him from coming to terms with the Forty, who were ready, after more than two month's fighting, to secure their safety by an honourable composition. Nizām-ud-dīn seduced from their allegiance, by large bribes, the ecclesiastics, who were the king's principal supporters, and on May 10 the city and fortress were captured by the confederate nobles, and Bahrām was put to death five days later.